Multicolored filament loading guide brush

ABSTRACT

A brush that can identify an optimal painting load, and a method for manufacturing the brush. The brush includes a handle, a ferrule attached to the handle, and a plurality of filaments attached to the handle and the ferrule, wherein each of the plurality of filaments includes a transition band including at least two different colors, so that a user can readily identify an optimal line for dipping the brush into a liquid. The plurality of filaments may include an animal hair or a synthetic filament. The animal hair may include natural hair from animals e.g., a squirrel, a goat, an ox, a badger, a horse, or the like. The synthetic filament may include e.g., polyester, nylon, or a blend of nylon and polyester. The synthetic filament may be of three constructions which include solid extrusion, profiled cross section, or hollow.

CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION

This application claims benefit and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/022,067, filed Jul. 8, 2014, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to a brush, and more particularly, it relates to a brush with a multicolored plurality of filaments for optimal painting load.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

A brush is a handheld tool that is used in e.g., cleaning, painting, surface finishing and the like. The brush generally consists of a handle or block to which bristles, wire or other filaments are affixed.

Typically, brushes include a plurality of filaments for use in applying liquid such as, e.g., ink, paint, varnish, lacquer, stain, and the like. During use, the plurality of filaments often pick up more liquid than necessary for the job and thereby result in wasting materials, making it more difficult to clean the brush for reuse, and increasing the likelihood that the liquid will be spread to unintended surfaces and objects—such as, e.g., the user's fingertips.

There exists an unfulfilled need for a brush that can identify an optimal painting load, while facilitating more efficient use of materials and minimizing the need for unnecessary clean up.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a brush is provided that includes a handle, a ferrule attached to the handle, and a plurality of filaments attached to the handle and the ferrule, wherein each of the plurality of filaments includes a transition band including at least two different colors, so that a user may readily identify an optimal line for dipping the brush into a liquid. The liquid may include a paint, a lacquer, a varnish, a stain, an ink, or a dye.

The plurality of filaments may include an animal hair or a synthetic filament. The animal hair may include natural hair from animals such as, for example, a squirrel, a goat, an ox, a badger, a horse, a tiger, a lion, or the like. The synthetic filament may also include e.g., polyester, nylon, or a blend of nylon and polyester. The synthetic filament may be of three constructions which include solid extrusion, profiled cross section, or hollow.

The plurality of filaments may also be coated with a substance such as, for example, Teflon, topical Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), or any other solution to provide paint carrying, releasing, and cleaning benefits.

The handle may include a wood, a plastic, or a metal. The ferrule may include a metal. The metal ferrule may be tin-coated.

The transition band may include a cross-sectional axis that is substantially parallel to a cross-sectional axis of the ferrule. Alternatively (or additionally), the transition band may include a cross- sectional axis that is substantially offset at an acute angle from a cross-sectional axis of the ferrule.

The at least two different colors may include a first color that is substantially lighter than a second color. For example, the first color may include e.g., white, gray, light green, light

yellow, or the like. The second color may include e.g., blue, red, orange, dark green, dark yellow, or the like. The first color may be proximate the ferrule. Alternatively, the second color may be proximate the ferrule. The plurality of the filaments may include the first color for a first portion of a filament length and the second color for a second portion of the filament length. The first portion of the filament length may be substantially less (or more) than 50% of the total length of the filament exposed from the ferrule. Preferably, the first portion of the filament length may be about 50% of the total length of the filament exposed from the ferrule. Additionally, the first portion of the filament length may be greater than 50% of the total length of the total length of the filament exposed from the ferrule.

Alternatively, (or additionally), the plurality of filaments may include a portion with a first color. The portion may include anywhere from 0 to 100% of the plurality of the filaments. The rest of the plurality of filaments may be divided into two colors. One of these colors may be the same as the first color, or they may both be different to the first color. Where the two color filament includes the first color, the first color may be proximate the ferrule. Alternatively, the at least two different colors may be proximate the ferrule. The plurality of filaments may include more than two colors.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for making a brush is provided. The method includes providing a plurality of filaments; treating the plurality of filaments with a liquid; baking the plurality of filaments to fix the liquid onto the plurality of filaments; rinsing the plurality of filaments to remove any excess liquid; baking the plurality of filaments to remove any moisture; providing a ferrule; attaching the plurality of filaments to the ferrule; providing a handle; and attaching the ferrule to the handle, wherein the plurality of filaments may further include a transition band which indicates an appropriate length of the brush to be treated with the liquid. The liquid may include a paint, a lacquer, a varnish, a stain, an ink, or a dye.

The plurality of filaments may include an animal hair or a synthetic filament. The animal hair may include natural hair from animals such as, for example, a squirrel, a goat, an ox, a badger, a horse, a tiger, a lion, or the like. The synthetic filament may also include e.g., polyester, nylon, or a blend of nylon and polyester. The synthetic filament may be of three constructions which include solid extrusion, profiled cross section, or hollow.

The plurality of filaments may also be coated with a substance such as, for example, Teflon, topical Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), or any other solution to provide paint carrying, releasing, and cleaning benefits.

The plurality of filaments may include at least two different colors which may further include a first color that is substantially lighter than a second color. For example, the first color may include e.g., white, gray, light green, light yellow, or the like. The second color may include e.g., blue, red, orange, dark green, dark yellow, or the like. The first color may be proximate the ferrule.

Alternatively, the second color may proximate the ferrule. The plurality of the filaments may include the first color for a first portion of a filament length and the second color for a second portion of the filament length. The first portion of the filament length may be substantially less (or more) than 50% of the total length of the filament exposed from the ferrule. Preferably, the first portion of the filament length may be about 50% of the total length of the filament exposed from the ferrule. Additionally, the first portion of the filament length may be greater than 50% of the total length of the filament exposed from the ferrule.

Alternatively, (or additionally), the plurality of filaments may include a portion with a first color. The portion may include anywhere from 0 to 100% of the plurality of the filaments. The rest of the plurality of filaments may be divided into two (or more) colors. One of these colors may be the same as the first color, or they may both be different to the first color. Where the two color filament includes the first color, the first color may be proximate the ferrule. Alternatively, the at least two different colors may be proximate the ferrule. The plurality of filaments may include more than two colors.

The handle may include a wood, a plastic, or a metal. The ferrule may include a metal. The metal ferrule may be tin-coated.

The transition band may include a cross-sectional axis that is substantially parallel to a cross-sectional axis of the ferrule. Alternatively (or additionally), the transition band may include a cross- sectional axis that is substantially offset at an acute angle from a cross-sectional axis of the ferrule.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure, are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the detailed description serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. No attempt is made to show structural details of the disclosure in more detail than may be necessary for a fundamental understanding of the disclosure and the various ways in which it may be practiced. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows an example of a brush that is constructed according to the principles of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows another example of a brush that is constructed according to the principles of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a method for making a brush in accordance with the principles of the disclosure.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show various examples of brushes constructed according to the principles of the disclosure.

The present disclosure is further described in the detailed description that follows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments and examples that are described and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and features of one embodiment may be employed with other embodiments as the skilled artisan would recognize, even if not explicitly stated herein. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques may be omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments of the disclosure. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the disclosure may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments of the disclosure. Accordingly, the examples and embodiments herein should not be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure. Moreover, it is noted that like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

The terms “including”, “comprising” and variations thereof, as used in this disclosure, mean “including, but not limited to”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The terms “a”, “an”, and “the”, as used in this disclosure, means “one or more”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

Although process steps, method steps, or the like, may be described in a sequential order, such processes and methods may be configured to work in alternate orders. In other words, any sequence or order of steps that may be described does not necessarily indicate a requirement that the steps be performed in that order. The steps of the processes or methods described herein may be performed in any order practical. Further, some steps may be performed simultaneously.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a brush that is constructed in accordance with the principles of this disclosure. The brush 100 includes a handle 10, a ferrule 20 attached to the handle 10, and a plurality of filaments 30 attached to the handle 10 and the ferrule 20. Each of the plurality of filaments 30 includes a first color band 31, a second color band 33, and a transition band 35. The first and second bands 31, 33 include at least two different colors, so that a user may readily identify an optimal line for dipping the brush 100 into a liquid. The liquid may include a paint, a lacquer, a varnish, a stain, an ink, a dye, or the like. The first and second color bands 31, 33 may differ in, e.g., hue, contrast, brightness, tint, or the like.

The plurality of filaments 30 may include an animal hair or a synthetic filament. The animal hair may include natural hair from animals such as, for example, a squirrel, a goat, an ox, a badger, a horse, a tiger, a lion, or the like.

The synthetic filament may also include a variety of filaments, such as, for example, polyester, nylon, or a blend of nylon, polyester, or the like. Additionally, the synthetic filament may be acrylic, amalon, or other petroleum-based synthetic. The synthetic filament may be of three constructions which include solid extrusion, profiled cross section, or hollow. The

synthetic filaments may be produced by extrusion in which a liquid synthetic is pushed through a mold and formed. Synthetic filaments generally last longer than natural filaments. Natural bristles are often preferred over synthetic filaments for oil-based paints and varnishes, while synthetic brushes tend to be preferred for water-based paints as the filaments do not expand when wetted.

The plurality of filaments 30 may also be coated with a substance such as, for example, Teflon, topical Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), or any other solution to provide paint carrying, releasing, and cleaning benefits.

The handle 10 may include a wood, a plastic, a metal, or the like. The ferrule 20 may include a wood, a plastic, a metal, or the like. The metal ferrule may be, e.g., tin-coated. The metal ferrule may further be, e.g., nickel-plated.

The transition band 35 may include a cross-sectional axis that is substantially parallel to a cross-sectional axis of the ferrule 20. Alternatively (or additionally), the transition band 35 cross-sectional axis may be is substantially offset at an acute angle from a cross-sectional axis of the ferrule (as shown in e.g., FIGS. 2, and 4-5).

The different color bands 31, 33 may include a first color that is substantially lighter than a second color and the second color, respectively. For example, the first color may include e.g., white, gray, light green, light yellow, or the like. The second color may include e.g., blue, red, orange, dark green, dark yellow, or the like. The first color may be proximate the ferrule 20. Alternatively, the second color may be proximate the ferrule 20. The plurality of the filaments 30 may include the first color for a first portion of a filament length and the second color for a second portion of the filament length. The first portion of the filament length may be substantially less than 50% of the total length of the filament exposed from the ferrule 20.

Alternatively, the first portion of the filament length may be substantially more than 50% of the total length of the filament exposed from the ferrule 20. Preferably, the first portion of the filament length may be about 50% of the total length of the filament exposed from the ferrule 20. Additionally, the first portion of the filament length may be greater than 50% of the total length of the filament exposed from the ferrule 20.

Preferably, the transition band 35 will be located midway along the visible portion (or “length out”) of the filament length, so that the lengths of the first colored portion of the filaments will be substantially equally to the lengths of the second colored portion of length out (“L.O.”) of the filaments (as seen, e.g., in FIG. 1).

Alternatively, (or additionally), the plurality of filaments 30 may include a portion with a first color. The portion may include anywhere from 0 to 100% of the plurality of the filaments 30. The rest of the plurality of filaments 30 may be divided into two (or more) colors. One of these colors may be the same as the first color, or they may both be different to the first color. Where the two color filament includes the first color, the first color may be proximate the ferrule 20. Alternatively, the at least two different colors may be proximate the ferrule 20. The plurality of filaments 30 may include more than two colors.

The color portions 31, 33 may differ in contrast levels. For instance, the first color band 31 may include about 100% colored/white filaments, and the second color band 33 may include about 70% colored/white and about 30% solid white to soften color impact. Alternatively, the first color band 31 may include about 70% colored/white and about 30% solid white to soften color impact, and the second color band 33 may include about 100% colored/white filaments.

FIG. 3 discloses an example of a method 300 for making a brush in accordance with the principles of this disclosure. The method includes providing a plurality of filaments (Step 310); treating the plurality of filaments with a colored dye (Step 320); baking the plurality of filaments to fix the colored dye onto the plurality of the filaments (Step 330); rinsing the plurality of filaments to remove any excess dye (Step 340); baking the plurality of filaments to remove any moisture (Step 350); providing a ferrule (Step 360); attaching the plurality of filaments to the ferrule (Step 370); proving a handle (Step 380); and attaching the ferrule to the handle (Step 390), wherein the plurality of filaments may further include a transition band which indicates an appropriate length of the brush to be treated with the colored dye.

Depending on the material used for the filaments, it may not be necessary to bake the filaments (S330) and this step may be omitted from the process 300.

Alternatively, the filaments may be made (e.g., extrusion) from a source material (e.g., polymer) to have the multiple colors and with transition band.

The plurality of filaments may include an animal hair or a synthetic filament. The animal hair may include natural hair from animals such as, for example, a squirrel, a goat, an ox, a badger, a horse, a tiger, a lion, or the like.

The plurality of filaments may be coated with a substance such as, for example, Teflon, topical Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), or any other solution to provide paint carrying, releasing, and cleaning benefits.

The synthetic filament may also include e.g., polyester, nylon, or a blend of nylon and polyester. Additionally, the synthetic filament may be acrylic, amalon, or other petroleum-based synthetic. The synthetic filament may be of three constructions which include solid extrusion, profiled cross section, or hollow.

The step of attaching the plurality of filaments to the ferrule may include shoving the filaments into a ferrule using e.g., a machine. The step of attaching the plurality of filaments to the ferrule may also include using e.g., an adhesive, a bond, a tape, or the like.

The step of attaching the ferrule to the handle may include using an adhesive, an epoxy, or the like. The step of attaching the ferrule to the handle may also include using fastening means such as, for example, a fastener, a screw, a corkscrew, a nail, or the like.

The transition band 35 may include a cross-sectional axis that is substantially parallel to a cross-sectional axis of the ferrule, as seen in FIG. 1. Alternatively (or additionally), the transition band may include a cross- sectional axis that is substantially offset at an acute angle from a cross-sectional axis of the ferrule, as seen in FIG. 2.

While the disclosure has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure can be practiced with modifications in the spirit and scope of the appended claims. These examples are merely illustrative and are not meant to be an exhaustive list of all possible designs, embodiments, applications or modifications of the disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A brush comprising: a handle; a ferrule attached to the handle; and a plurality of filaments attached to the handle and the ferrule, wherein each of the plurality of filaments comprises a transition band comprising at least two different colors, so that a user can readily identify an optimal line for dipping the brush into a liquid.
 2. The brush of claim 1, wherein the liquid comprises: a paint; a lacquer; a sealer; a varnish; a stain; an ink; or a dye.
 3. The brush of claim 1, wherein the plurality of filaments comprises: an animal hair; or a synthetic filament.
 4. The brush of claim 1, wherein the handle comprises: a wood; a plastic; or a metal.
 5. The brush of claim 1, wherein the ferrule comprises a metal.
 6. The brush of claim 1, wherein the transition band comprises a cross-sectional axis that is substantially parallel to a cross-sectional axis of the ferrule.
 7. The brush of claim 1, wherein the transition band comprise a cross-sectional axis that is substantially offset at an acute angle from a cross-sectional axis of the ferule.
 8. The brush of claim 1, wherein the at least two different colors comprise a first color that is substantially lighter than a second color.
 9. The brush of claim 8, wherein the first color is proximate the ferrule.
 10. The brush of claim 8, wherein the second color is proximate to the ferrule.
 11. The brush of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of filaments comprises the first color for a first portion of a filament length and the second color for a second portion of the filament length.
 12. The brush of claim 11, wherein the first portion of the filament length is substantially less than 50% of the second portion of the filament length.
 13. A method for making a brush comprising: providing a plurality of filaments; treating the plurality of filaments with a colored dye; baking the plurality of filaments to fix the colored dye onto the plurality of the filaments; rinsing the plurality of filaments to remove any excess dye; baking the plurality of filaments to remove any moisture; providing a ferrule; attaching the plurality of filaments to the ferrule; providing a handle; and attaching the ferrule to the handle, wherein the plurality of filaments further comprises a transition band which indicates an appropriate length of the brush to be treated with the colored dye.
 14. The method of claim 13 further comprising dipping the brush onto a liquid wherein the liquid further comprises: a paint; a lacquer; a sealer; a varnish; or a dye.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of filaments comprises: an animal hair; or a synthetic filament.
 16. The method of claim 13, wherein the handle comprises: a wood; a plastic; or a metal.
 17. The method of claim 13, wherein the ferrule comprises a metal.
 18. The method of claim 13, wherein the transition band comprises a cross-sectional axis that is substantially parallel to a cross-sectional axis of the ferrule.
 19. The method of claim 13, wherein the transition band comprises a cross-sectional axis that is substantially offset at an acute angle from a cross-sectional axis of the ferrule.
 20. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of filaments comprises: at least two different colors, wherein the at least two different colors further comprises a first color that is substantially lighter than a second color. 